3-5-23 Sermon "God Loves All" 13 Minutes

JOHN 3:1-17

This morning I'll be reading John chapter 3 verses 1 through 17. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. John 3:1-17 Like many of my scripture choices,,, these should be familiar to you,,, or at least verse 16 will be I'm sure! John 3:1–17 (HCSB) — 1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. 12 If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven —the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Romans 5:12-19,,, and we seen that Adam might have messed things up in this world by disobeying God,,, but God had a plan in place to fix things,,, and that plan was available to all.

Of course,,, we also learned that even though it’s available to all,,, not everyone will take advantage and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior!

It’s there for everyone,,, but many refuse the free gift that God has made available!

We must be sure that we accept that gift,,, that God has made available to all!

This morning we will look at these verses in John and see how they help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verse 1 said: 1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Nicodemus was an important man,,, he was a teacher (v. 10),,, a Pharisee,,, a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council,,, and,,, he helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus after His death on the cross.

Maybe,,, since he was so high up the social ladder he was worried about being seen,,, since the question arises in our minds after the next verse,,,

___________________________________ Verse 2 said: 2 This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.”

There isn’t an explanation given as to why he went to Jesus at night,,, we are left to make up our own minds.

It could have been because of fear,,, because it was the normal time for visits,,, because he wanted to speak with Jesus one on one,,, John doesn’t say,,, but John uses nighttime in a negative way a lot in his writing,,, for example see,,, 9:4,,, 11:10,,, 13:30,,, 19:39.

Whatever the reason,,,, Nicodemus has recognized that Jesus definitely has a relationship with God,,, and he wanted to talk to him,,, even though I’m sure that he doesn’t recognize who Jesus is at this time.

___________________________________ Verses 3-5 said: 3 Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Notice how Nicodemus tries to figure out how “he” can do this,,, or make this happen by himself!

We are just as guilty,,, always trying to make things harder by trying to do them our way,,, make our ideas fit into religion,,, make it possible for us to earn our way,,, instead of just accepting the gift that God has prepared for us!

___________________________________ Verses 6-8 said: 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Jesus tells Nicodemus that we are born in sin,,, and without the ability to save ourselves.

That’s something that only God can do!

And like the wind,,, we can’t fully understand,,, where it comes from or where it is going.

That’s where faith in Jesus Christ comes into play.

___________________________________ Verses 9-13 said: 9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. 12 If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.

Nicodemus should have been able to understand these things since he was,,, a teacher of Israel.

He had surely studied the Old Testament scriptures that taught that when the Messiah came,,, He would judge His enemies,,, and destroy all things that offend,,, and only those that had confessed and forsaken their sins would enter the kingdom.

And then Jesus tells him that since he is having trouble believing these things,,, that happen on earth,,, how can He tell him about things of heaven!

And who has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven —the Son of Man. ,,, Jesus Christ!

___________________________________ Verses 14-17 said: 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

In Deuteronomy 21:4-9,,, when the Israelites were being bitten by snakes as punishment for their disobedience,,, Moses lifted the bronze snake so that when they were bitten, they could look at it,,, and through the faith they showed by looking at it,,, they would be saved.

We are saved in similar fashion when we look to Jesus Christ as our Savior,,, who was lifted up on the cross and sacrificed for our sins.

And like last Sunday,,, we know that this is offered to all,,, but not all will believe and accept Jesus as their Savior,,, but we know that God gave His Son for all,,, if all will believe,,, and accept!

___________________________________ Jesus told Nicodemus that He came,,, so that through Him,,, the whole world might be saved!

We serve a God that loves us so much,,, even while we were sinners,,, and showed His love for us,,, by sending His Son to die on the cross for our own sins.

A love that God has for everyone!

It’s available to you and I today,,, just as it was to everyone during that time,,, as well as to Nicodemus and all of the scribes and Pharisees,,, all that were wanting to get rid of Him!

“God Loves All”,,, even if “All”,,, won’t accept,,, that love!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------